Systems And Methods For Visibly Communicating A Condition To A Tracker Using Remote Illumination

ABSTRACT

Surgical systems and methods involve a tracker having at least one trackable component and a localizer configured to track states of the at least one trackable component. An illumination assembly is located remote from the tracker and is operable to direct a visible light. A controller is coupled to the localizer and to the illumination assembly. The controller is configured to detect a condition and control the illumination assembly to remotely direct the visible light at the tracker such that the visible light is reflected by the tracker to communicate the detected condition.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The subject application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 16/924,643, filed Jul. 9, 2020, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional Patent App. No. 62/872,489, filed Jul. 10, 2019, thecontents of each of the aforementioned applications being herebyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

Navigation systems are frequently utilized in connection with hand-heldsurgical tools and/or surgical robotics to assist medical professionalsin carrying out conventional surgical procedures with enhanced precisionand control. In general terms, the navigation system affords the abilityto determine the position and orientation of portions of the patient'sanatomy adjacent to a surgical site relative to tracked tools,instruments, end effectors, and the like.

To this end, one or more trackers are generally affixed firmly toportions of the patient's anatomy, and trackers are similarly integratedinto or otherwise attached to tools, instruments, and end effectorsutilized during a surgical procedure. A localizer tracks states oftrackable features of each tracker to determine its relative positionand orientation within a field of view. While a number of differenttypes of navigation systems are known in the related art, trackers cangenerally be characterized as either “active” or “passive” depending,respectively, on the presence or absence of a power source coupled tothe tracker. By way of example, “active trackers” may comprise anon-board battery that is used to provide power to light emitting diodes,electromagnetic emitters, radio emitters, and the like that serve astrackable features monitored by the localizer, as well as otherelectrical components such as inertial sensors. On the other hand,“passive trackers” may comprise trackable features that do not requirean on-board power source, such as reflectors and/or specific structuralfeatures, shapes, and patterns monitored by the localizer.

Irrespective of the specific configuration of the navigation system,interrupting or impeding the localizer's ability to monitor trackers canresult in disadvantageous delays or errors during the surgicalprocedure. For example, with optical-based navigation systems, obscuringthe localizer's line-of-sight to the trackable features of a trackerwill impede the navigation system's ability to accurately track statesof that tracker. In such instances, a change in the tracker's status isgenerally communicated to medical professionals via audible or visualalerts, either locally at the tracker (e.g., via a status light for“active” trackers) and/or remote from the tracker (e.g., on a displayscreen). Accordingly, delays during the surgical procedure may be causedas medical professionals remove obstructions, verify tracker operation,and the like, which is further complicated when multiple trackers areutilized simultaneously. Moreover, depending on the specificconfiguration of the navigation system (e.g., those configured tomonitor passive trackers), a surgeon may have to direct their attentionaway from the surgical site in order to verify tracker status by, forexample, visually checking a display screen to confirm a visual alert,interrupting operation of a surgical tool to confirm an audible alert,and the like.

There remains a need in the art for a navigation system which overcomesat least the deficiencies described above.

SUMMARY

This Summary introduces a selection of concepts in a simplified formthat are further described below in the Detailed Description. ThisSummary is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed subject matterand does not necessarily identify each and every key or essentialfeature of the claimed subject matter.

According to a first aspect, a surgical system is provided, comprising:a tracker having at least one trackable component; a localizerconfigured to track states of the at least one trackable component; anillumination assembly located remote from the tracker and operable todirect a visible light; and a controller coupled to the localizer and tothe illumination assembly and the controller being configured to: detecta condition; and control the illumination assembly to remotely directthe visible light at the tracker such that the visible light isreflected by the tracker to communicate the detected condition.

According to a second aspect, a method is provided of operating asurgical system comprising a tracker having at least one trackablecomponent, a localizer configured to track states of the at least onetrackable component, an illumination assembly located remote from thetracker and operable to direct a visible light, and a controller coupledto the localizer and to the illumination assembly and the controllerbeing configured to perform the steps of: detecting a condition; andcontrolling the illumination assembly for remotely directing the visiblelight at the tracker such that the visible light is reflected by thetracker for communicating the detected condition.

According to third aspect, a surgical system is provided, comprising: asurgical tool configured for a surgical procedure; a tracker coupled tothe surgical tool and having at least one trackable component; alocalizer configured to track states of the at least one trackablecomponent; an illumination assembly located remote from the tracker andoperable to direct a visible light; and a controller coupled to thelocalizer and to the illumination assembly and the controller beingconfigured to: detect a condition associated with the surgical tool orwith the surgical procedure; and control the illumination assembly toremotely direct the visible light at the tracker such that the visiblelight is reflected by the tracker to communicate the detected condition.

Other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be readilyappreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading thesubsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surgical system comprising a surgicalrobot with a robotic arm supporting an end effector to which a tool issupported adjacent to a surgical site on a patient's body, and shownwith a navigation system according to embodiments of the presentdisclosure comprising trackers, a localizer, and an illuminationassembly directing light at the trackers to communicate statusconditions of the trackers to a user.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a controller in communication with thelocalizer and the illumination assembly of FIG. 1 , shown with differenttypes of trackers each having respective trackable features andreflective features according to examples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one example of the illumination assemblyof the navigation system of FIG. 1 , shown having a housing with anaperture through which light is directed.

FIG. 4A is a partial perspective view of the illumination assembly ofFIG. 3 , shown having a light module emitting light at an aiming unitcomprising first and second actuator assemblies having respective firstand second mirrors arranged to direct light in a first direction.

FIG. 4B is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 4A, shown with the first and second mirrors of the respectivefirst and second actuator assemblies arranged to direct light in asecond direction.

FIG. 5A is a partial perspective view of another example of theillumination assembly of the navigation system of FIG. 1 , shown havinga light module emitting light at an aiming unit comprising a firstactuator assembly with a mirror supported by a second actuator assembly,with the mirror arranged to direct light in a first direction.

FIG. 5B is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 5A, shown with the mirror arranged to direct light in a seconddirection.

FIG. 6A is a partial perspective view of another example of theillumination assembly of the navigation system of FIG. 1 , shown havingan aiming unit comprising first and second actuator assemblies, with thefirst actuator assembly shown supporting a light module emitting light,and with the aiming unit arranged to direct light emitted by the lightmodule in a first direction.

FIG. 6B is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 6A, shown with the aiming unit arranged to direct light emittedby the light module in a second direction.

FIG. 7A is a partial perspective view of another example of theillumination assembly of the navigation system of FIG. 1 , shown havingan aiming unit comprising first and second actuator assemblies, with thefirst actuator assembly shown supporting first and second light moduleswith the first light module emitting light, and with the aiming unitarranged to direct light emitted by the first light module in a firstdirection.

FIG. 7B is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 7A, shown with the aiming unit arranged to direct light emittedby the first light module in a second direction.

FIG. 7C is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 7B, shown with the aiming unit arranged to direct light emittedby the second light module in the first direction.

FIG. 7D is another partial perspective view of the illumination assemblyof FIG. 7C, shown with the aiming unit arranged to direct light emittedby the second light module in the second direction.

FIG. 8A is a partial perspective view of the navigation system of FIG. 1, shown with first and second trackers coupled to respective portions ofthe patient's body adjacent to the surgical site, and shown with anillumination assembly operatively attached to a localizer and directinglight at each of the first and second trackers to communicate a normalcondition for each of the first and second trackers.

FIG. 8B is another partial perspective view of the navigation system ofFIG. 8A, shown with a caregiver interrupting line-of-sight between thelocalizer and the first tracker, with the illumination assembly havinginterrupted directing light at the first tracker to communicate atracker error condition to a user, and with the illumination assemblydirecting light at the second tracker in a first illumination mode tocommunicate the normal condition for the second tracker.

FIG. 8C is another partial perspective view of the navigation system ofFIG. 8B, shown with the caregiver still interrupting line-of-sightbetween the localizer and the first tracker, with the illuminationassembly still having interrupted directing light at the first tracker,and with the illumination assembly directing light at the second trackerin a second illumination mode to communicate an error condition to theuser.

FIG. 9A is a partial perspective view of the navigation system of FIG. 1, shown with first and second trackers coupled to respective portions ofthe patient's body adjacent to the surgical site, and shown with anillumination assembly spaced from a localizer and directing light ateach of the first and second trackers to communicate a normal conditionfor each of the first and second trackers.

FIG. 9B is another partial perspective view of the navigation system ofFIG. 9A, shown with a caregiver interrupting line-of-sight between thelocalizer and the first tracker, with the illumination assembly havinginterrupted directing light at the first tracker to communicate an errorcondition to a user, and with the illumination assembly directing lightat the second tracker in a first illumination mode to communicate thenormal condition for the second tracker.

FIG. 9C is another partial perspective view of the navigation system ofFIG. 9B, shown with the caregiver still interrupting line-of-sightbetween the localizer and the first tracker, with the illuminationassembly directing light at the second tracker in a first illuminationmode to communicate the normal condition for the second tracker, andwith the illumination assembly directing light at the first tracker in asecond illumination mode to communicate an error condition for the firsttracker.

FIG. 10A is a partial perspective view of the navigation system of FIG.1 , shown with a first patient tracker and an ancillary patient trackercoupled to the same portion of the patient's body adjacent to thesurgical site, and shown with an illumination assembly spaced from alocalizer and directing light at the ancillary patient tracker tocommunicate a normal condition for the first patient tracker.

FIG. 10B is another partial perspective view of the navigation system ofFIG. 9A, shown with a first patient tracker having moved relative to theancillary patient tracker and to the portion of the patient's body, andshown with the illumination assembly having interrupted directing lightat the ancillary patient tracker to communicate an error condition to auser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, navigation systems andtechniques are described for communicating the status of one or moretrackers utilized with a surgical system 30. One non-limiting example ofa surgical system 30 is shown in FIG. 1 . In this example, the surgicalsystem 30 comprises a surgical robot 32. Although a robotic system isshown in FIG. 1 , the navigation system and techniques described hereincan be utilized with any other type of surgical system that utilizestrackers for tracking the pose of objects in the operating room. Suchsystems may include, but are not limited to, hand-held systems (roboticor non-robotic), table mounted systems, imaging systems, or anycombination thereof.

In this example, the surgical robot 32 has a base 34, a robotic arm 36,and a coupler 38. As is described in greater detail below, the roboticarm 36 is supported by the base 34 and is configured to move, drive,maintain, or otherwise control the position and/or orientation of thecoupler 38 relative to the base 34 during use. The coupler 38 is adaptedto releasably secure an end effector 40 which, in turn, supports a tool,generally indicated at 42. The tool 42 is configured to support,position, or otherwise facilitate driving a workpiece, depictedgenerically at 44 in FIG. 1 , at a surgical site ST on a patient's bodyB. Thus, the surgical robot 32 moves the workpiece 44, the tool 42, andthe end effector 40 via the robotic arm 36 to, among other things,assist medical professionals in carrying out various types of surgicalprocedures with precise control over movement and positioning of the endeffector 40, the tool 42, and the workpiece 44. One exemplaryarrangement of the robotic arm 36 is described in U.S. Pat. No.9,119,655, entitled, “Surgical Robotic arm Capable of Controlling aSurgical Instrument in Multiple Modes,” the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another exemplaryarrangement of robotic arm 36 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,010,180,entitled, “Haptic Guidance System and Method,” the disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The robotic arm 36and other portions of the surgical robot 32 may be arranged inalternative configurations.

While the workpiece 44 is generically depicted as an “energy applicator”in FIG. 1 , the end effector 40, the tool 42, and/or the workpiece 44could be of a number of different styles, types, and/or configurations,depending on the specific surgical procedure being performed. By way ofnon-limiting example, surgical procedures such as total hip arthroplastyroutinely involve the use of multiple tools 42 to facilitate approachingthe surgical site ST, preparing the surgical site ST, and/or installingimplants (e.g., prosthetic components), and the like at the surgicalsite ST. In this illustrative example, one tool 42 could be a reamerused to facilitate preparing the acetabulum by driving a workpiece 44realized as a reamer head (not shown in detail), and another tool 42could be an impactor used to facilitate implanting a workpiece 44realized as a prosthesis (not shown). The Applicant has described thesetypes of reaming, preparing, and impaction processes in greater detailin U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,979,859 and 8,753,346, the disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. While the presentdisclosure describes various orthopedic procedures (e.g., involving hipjoints, knee joints, and the like), the subject matter described hereinmay be applicable to other joints in the patient's body B, such as, forexample, shoulders, elbows, wrists, spines, knees, ankles, and the like.

The surgical system 30 is able to monitor, track, and/or determinechanges in the relative position and/or orientation of one or more partsof the surgical robot 32, the robotic arm 36, the end effector 40, thetool 42, and/or the workpiece 44, as well as various parts of thepatient's body B and other surgical tools and/or instruments, within orrelative to a common coordinate system by utilizing various types oftrackers (e.g., multiple degree-of-freedom optical, inertial, radio,and/or ultrasonic sensing devices), navigation systems (e.g., machinevision systems, charge coupled device cameras, tracker sensors, surfacescanners, and/or range finders), anatomical computer models (e.g.,patient-specific computer topography scans, magnetic resonance imagingscans, X-ray scans, and the like), data from previous surgicalprocedures and/or previously-performed surgical techniques (e.g.,intraoperatively-recorded data acquired during tissue manipulation), andthe like. To these ends, and as is described in greater detail below,the surgical system 30 generally comprises a control system 46 and anavigation system 48 which cooperate to facilitate positioning andorientating the workpiece 44 relative to the surgical site ST via therobotic arm 36 of the surgical robot 32. The control system 46 comprisesan arm controller 50, and the navigation system 48 comprises anavigation controller 52. The controllers 50, 52 may be realized ascomputers, processors, control units, and the like, and may be discretecomponents, may be integrated, and/or may otherwise share hardware.

The surgical system 30 employs the control system 46 to, among otherthings, articulate the robotic arm 36, facilitate driving the tool 42,and the like. Here, the arm controller 50 of the control system 46 isconfigured to articulate the robotic arm 36 by driving variousactuators, motors, and the like disposed at joints of the robotic arm 36(not shown). The arm controller 50 also gathers sensor data from varioussensors such as encoders located along the robotic arm 36 (not shown).Because the specific geometry of each of the components of the surgicalrobot 32, end effector 40, and tool 42 are known, these sensor data canbe used by the arm controller 50 to reliably adjust the position and/ororientation of the tool 42 within a manipulator coordinate system MNPL(see FIG. 1 ). The manipulator coordinate system MNPL has an origin, andthe origin is located relative to the robotic arm 36. One example ofthis type of manipulator coordinate system MNPL is described in U.S.Pat. No. 9,119,655, entitled “Surgical Robotic Arm Capable ofControlling a Surgical Instrument in Multiple Modes,” previouslyreferenced.

The surgical system 30 employs the navigation system 48 to, among otherthings, track movement of various objects such as the tool 42 and partsof the patient's body B (e.g., bones located at or adjacent to thesurgical site ST). To this end, the navigation system 48 comprises alocalizer 54 configured to sense the position and/or orientation oftrackers 56 fixed to objects within a localizer coordinate system LCLZ.More specifically, each tracker 56 comprises one or more trackablefeatures 58, and the localizer 54 is configured to track states TS ofthe trackable features 58 within a field of view FV. The navigationsystem 48 of the present disclosure also comprises an illuminationassembly, generally indicated at 60, that is operable to direct lightwithin the field of view FV. The navigation controller 52 is coupled tothe localizer 54 and the illumination assembly 60 and is configured to:receive the tracked states TS from the localizer 54, to determine astatus condition SC of one or more trackers 56 and/or a system conditionMC of the surgical system 30 based on the tracked states TS receivedfrom the localizer 54, and to control the illumination assembly 60 todirect light LT at trackers 56 such that light reflected by the one ormore trackers 56 from the illumination assembly 60 is visible to a user(e.g., a surgeon) of the navigation system 48 to communicate therespective status condition SC of the one or more trackers 56 and/or thesystem condition MC of the surgical system 30. Each of the componentsintroduced above will be described in greater detail below.

As noted above, the navigation controller 52 is disposed incommunication with the localizer 54, and gathers position and/ororientation data for each tracker 56 sensed within the field of view FVof the localizer 54 in the localizer coordinate system LCLZ. Thelocalizer 54 can sense the position and/or orientation of multipletrackers 56 to track correspondingly multiple objects within thelocalizer coordinate system LCLZ. By way of example, and as is depictedin FIG. 1 , trackers 56 may comprise a pointer tracker 56P, a tooltracker 56T, a first patient tracker 56A, a second patient tracker 56B,and/or an illumination assembly tracker 561 (see FIGS. 9A-9C), as wellas additional patient trackers and/or other types of patient trackerssuch as ancillary trackers 56N (see FIGS. 10A-10B), trackers foradditional medical and/or surgical tools, and the like. In FIG. 1 , thepointer tracker 56P is firmly affixed to a pointer tool 62, the tooltracker 56T is firmly affixed to the end effector 40, the first patienttracker 56A is firmly affixed to the patient's right femur adjacent tothe surgical site ST, and the second patient tracker 56B is firmlyaffixed to the patient's right tibia adjacent to the surgical site ST.The pointer tracker 56P could be fixed to the pointer tool 62 indifferent ways, such as by integration into the pointer tool 62 duringmanufacture or by releasable attachment to the pointer tool 62.Similarly, the tool tracker 56T could be fixed to the end effector 40 indifferent ways, such as by integration into the end effector 40 duringmanufacture or by releasable attachment to the end effector 40. Thepatient trackers 56A, 62B are firmly affixed to different bones in thepatient's body B, such as by threaded engagement, clamping, or by othertechniques. Various trackers 56 may be firmly affixed to different typesof tracked objects (e.g., discrete bones, tools, pointers, and the like)in a number of different ways.

The position and/or orientation (e.g., “pose”) of the trackers 56relative to the objects to which they are attached can be determined byknown registration techniques, such as point-based registration in whichthe pointer tool 62 is used to touch off on bony landmarks on bone or totouch off on several points across the bone for surface-basedregistration. Any suitable registration technique can be employed tocorrelate the pose of the patient trackers 56A, 56B to the patient'sanatomy (e.g., each bone). Other types of registration are alsopossible, such as by using patient trackers 56A, 56B with mechanicalclamps that attach to bone and have tactile sensors (not shown) todetermine a shape of bone to which the clamp is attached. The shape ofthe bone can then be matched to a 3D model for registration. In someembodiments, multiple trackers could be attached to the same portion ofthe patient's anatomy. For example, and as is depicted in therepresentative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10A-10B, a first patienttracker 58A and an ancillary tracker 58N could both be coupled to thesame bone (e.g., the femur, the tibia, the acetabulum, or other bones).Other configurations are contemplated.

Tracked states TS, such as for example position and/or orientation dataassociated with trackable features 58 of one or more trackers 56, may begathered, determined, or otherwise handled by the navigation controller52 using any suitable registration/navigation techniques to determinecoordinates of each tracker 56 within the localizer coordinate systemLCLZ. These coordinates are communicated to the control system 46 to,among other things, facilitate navigation of hand-held surgical tools(not shown) and/or articulation of the robotic arm 36, as described ingreater detail below. As used herein, the term “tracked state” includes,but is not limited to, data which represents or defines the positionand/or orientation of a tracked object, and/or equivalents orderivatives of the position and/or orientation. For example, a trackedstate TS may be a pose of the tracked object, and may include lineardata, angular velocity data, and the like. Furthermore, and as isdescribed in greater detail below, tracked states TS may also compriseor otherwise represent data associated with the status condition SC ofone or more trackers 56, as well as a system condition MC of thesurgical system 30, as described in greater detail below. Otherconfigurations are contemplated.

In the representative example illustrated in FIG. 1 , the arm controller50 is operatively attached to the surgical robot 32, and portions of thenavigation system 48 including the navigation controller 52, thelocalizer 54, and the illumination assembly 60 are supported on a mobilecart 64 which is movable relative to the base 34 of the surgical robot32. The mobile cart 64 also supports a user interface, generallyindicated at 66, to facilitate operation of the surgical system 30 bydisplaying information to, and/or by receiving information from, thesurgeon or another user. The user interface 66 is disposed incommunication with the navigation system 48 and/or the control system46, and may comprise one or more output devices 68 (e.g., monitors,indicators, display screens, and the like) to present information to theuser (e.g., images, video, data, a graphics, navigable menus, and thelike), and one or more input devices 70 (e.g., buttons, touch screens,keyboards, mice, gesture or voice-based input devices, and the like).One type of mobile cart 64 and user interface 66 is described in U.S.Pat. No. 7,725,162, entitled “Surgery System,” the disclosure of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

In some examples, the surgical system 30 is capable of displaying avirtual representation of the relative positions and orientations oftracked objects to the surgeon or other users of the surgical system 30,such as with images and/or graphical representations of the bones andthe tool 42 presented on one or more output devices 68 (e.g., a displayscreen). The arm controller 50 and/or navigation controller 52 may alsoutilize the user interface 66 to display instructions or requestinformation such that the surgeon or other users may interact with thecontrol system 46 to facilitate articulation of the robotic arm 36.Other configurations are contemplated.

Because the mobile cart 64 and the base 34 of the surgical robot 32 canbe positioned relative to each other and also relative to the patient'sbody B, one or more components of the surgical system 30 (e.g., thecontrollers 50, 52) may transform the coordinates of each tracker 56from the localizer coordinate system LCLZ into the manipulatorcoordinate system MNPL, or vice versa, so that articulation of therobotic arm 36 can be performed based at least partially on the relativepositions and orientations of each tracker 56 within a common coordinatesystem (e.g., the manipulator coordinate system MNPL or the localizercoordinate system LCLZ). Coordinates within the localizer coordinatesystem LCLZ can be transformed into coordinates within the manipulatorcoordinate system MNPL, and vice versa, using a number of differentcoordinate system transformation techniques.

The control system 46 and the navigation system 48 can cooperate tofacilitate control over the position and/or orientation of the tool 42in different ways. By way of example, in some examples, the armcontroller 50 is configured to control the robotic arm 36 (e.g., bydriving joint motors) to provide haptic feedback to the surgeon via therobotic arm 36. Here, haptic feedback help constrain or inhibit thesurgeon from manually moving the end effector 40 and/or the tool 42beyond predefined virtual boundaries associated with the surgicalprocedure (e.g., to maintain alignment of the workpiece 44 relative tothe surgical site ST). One type of haptic feedback system and associatedhaptic objects that define virtual boundaries are described, forexample, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,010,180, entitled “Haptic Guidance Systemand Method,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. In one example, the surgical system 30 is the RIO™Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic System manufactured by MAKO SurgicalCorp. of Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.

While the representative example of the surgical system 30 illustratedin FIG. 1 employs the surgical robot 32 to facilitate positioning thetool 42 and workpiece 44 relative to the surgical site ST, the surgicalsystem 30 may also and/or alternatively employ navigated hand-heldtools, instruments, and the like which are tracked by the localizer 54to facilitate navigated surgery (not shown, but generally known in therelated art). The navigation system 48 can be utilized in connectionwith a number of different types of surgical systems 30, bothrobotically-controlled and/or hand-operated, for various navigatedmedical and surgical procedures.

In the representative example illustrated in FIG. 1 , the localizer 54is an optical localizer and includes a camera unit 72 with one or moreoptical sensors 74. The navigation system 48 employs the optical sensors74 of the camera unit 72 to sense or otherwise monitor the positionand/or orientation of each of the trackers 56 within the localizercoordinate system LCLZ based on the trackable features 58 observedwithin the field of view FV of the localizer 54. The trackers 56 eachgenerally comprise a respective tracker body 76 which, as described ingreater detail below, may define or otherwise support one or moretrackable features 58 configured to be monitored by the localizer 54. Inthe representative example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8A-9C, thetrackable features 58 are realized by four generically-depicted passivemarkers 78 which are shaped and arranged about the tracker body 76 in apredetermined manner that can be recognized and tracked by the opticalposition sensors 74 of the camera unit 72 of the localizer 54. In someexamples, the localizer 54 or another part of the navigation system 48may comprise an emitter module 80 configured to generate “pulses” ofinfrared or near-infrared light at a predetermined frequency which, whenreflected back to the camera unit 72 by passive markers 78, facilitatesmonitoring the trackers 56 within the field of view FV of the localizer54. As is described in greater detail below, the emitter module 80 isseparate and distinct from the illumination assembly 60, which directsvisible light toward the passive markers 78 to facilitate communicatingthe status condition SC and/or the system condition MC by reflectingvisible light to the user.

While the representative example of the trackers 56 depicted in FIGS. 1and 3A-4E employ trackable features 58 realized as passive markers 78,in some examples the trackers 56 could employ active markers (e.g.,light emitting diodes “LEDs”) which emit light (e.g., infrared ornear-infrared light) that is sensed by the optical position sensors 74of the camera unit 72. Examples of localizers 54, trackers 56, andnavigation systems 48 are described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,008,757, entitled“Navigation System Including Optical and Non-Optical Sensors,” thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.As will be appreciated from the subsequent description below, othersuitable tracking systems and methods not specifically described hereinmay be utilized in connection with the navigation system 48 (e.g.,ultrasonic, electromagnetic, radio frequency, machine-vision, and thelike).

Although the example of the navigation system 48 is illustratedthroughout the drawings is based on “passive” trackers 56 and anoptically-based localizer 54, the navigation system 48 may have othersuitable configurations for monitoring trackers 56 which, as will beappreciated from the subsequent description below, may likewise be ofvarious types and configurations. Thus, the navigation system 48 maycomprise other types of localizers 54 and/or trackers 56 beyond thosespecifically described herein and illustrated throughout the drawings.

In some examples, the navigation system 48 and/or the localizer 54 areradio frequency (RF) based. For example, the navigation system 48 maycomprise an RF transceiver coupled to the navigation controller 52and/or to the control system 46 (e.g., to the arm controller Here, thetrackers 56 may comprise RF emitters or transponders, which may bepassive or may be actively energized. The RF transceiver transmits an RFtracking signal, and the RF emitters respond with RF signals such thattracked states are communicated to (or interpreted by) the navigationcontroller 52. The RF signals may be of any suitable frequency. The RFtransceiver may be positioned at any suitable location to track theobjects using RF signals effectively. Furthermore, examples of RF-basednavigation systems may have structural configurations that are differentthan the navigation system 48 illustrated throughout the drawings.

In some examples, the navigation system 48 and/or localizer 54 areelectromagnetically (EM) based. For example, the navigation system 48may comprise an EM transceiver coupled to the navigation controller 52and/or to the control system 46 (e.g., to the arm controller 50). Here,the trackers 56 may comprise EM components attached thereto (e.g.,various types of magnetic trackers, electromagnetic trackers, inductivetrackers, and the like), which may be passive or may be activelyenergized. The EM transceiver generates an EM field, and the EMcomponents respond with EM signals such that tracked states arecommunicated to (or interpreted by) the navigation controller 52. Thenavigation controller 52 may analyze the received EM signals toassociate relative states thereto. Here too, examples of EM-basednavigation systems may have structural configurations that are differentthan the navigation system 48 illustrated throughout the drawings.

In some examples, the navigation system 48 and/or the localizer 54 couldbe based on one or more other types of tracking systems. For example, anultrasound-based tracking system coupled to the navigation controller 52and/or to the control system 46 (e.g., to the arm controller 50) couldbe provided to facilitate acquiring ultrasound images of markers thatdefine trackable features 58 such that tracked states TS arecommunicated to (or interpreted by) the navigation controller 52 basedon the ultrasound images. By way of further example, a fluoroscopy-basedimaging system (e.g., a C-arm) coupled to the navigation controller 52and/or to the control system 46 (e.g., to the arm controller 50) couldbe provided to facilitate acquiring X-ray images of radio-opaque markersthat define trackable features 58 such that tracked states TS arecommunicated to (or interpreted by) the navigation controller 52 basedon the X-ray images. Furthermore, in some examples, a machine-visiontracking system (e.g., one or more charge-coupled devices) coupled tothe navigation controller 52 and/or to the control system 46 (e.g., tothe arm controller 50) could be provided to facilitate acquiring 2Dand/or 3D machine-vision images of structural features that definetrackable features 58 such that tracked states TS are communicated to(or interpreted by) the navigation controller 52 based on themachine-vision images. The ultrasound, X-ray, and/or machine-visionimages may be 2D, 3D, or a combination thereof, and may be processed bythe navigation controller 52 in near real-time to determine the trackedstates TS.

Various types of tracking and/or imaging systems could define thelocalizer 54 and/or form a part of the navigation system 48 withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, thenavigation system 48 and/or localizer 54 may have other suitablecomponents or structure not specifically recited herein, and the varioustechniques, methods, and/or components described herein with respect tothe optically-based navigation system 48 shown throughout the drawingsmay be implemented or provided for any of the other examples of thenavigation system 48 described herein. For example, the navigationsystem 48 may utilize solely inertial tracking and/or combinations ofdifferent tracking techniques, sensors, and the like. Otherconfigurations are contemplated.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-9C, as noted above, the navigation system 48 ofthe present disclosure employs the illumination assembly 60 to, amongother things, direct light at one or more trackers 56 such that lightreflected by a tracker 56 from the illumination assembly is visible tothe user to communicate the status condition SC of that tracker 56determined by the navigation controller 52 (hereinafter, “controller52”) and/or to communicate the system condition MC of the surgicalsystem 30 to the user. It will be appreciated that status conditions SCand/or system conditions MC could be defined in a number of differentways. In some configurations, the status condition SC and/or systemcondition MC could comprise respective normal conditions NC or errorconditions EC, each of which could be defined in various ways. Forexample, a status condition SC of a particular tracker 56 could bedefined as a normal condition NC when that tracker 56 is being activelyand accurately monitored by the navigation system 48, and could bedefined as an error condition when that tracker 56 is obstructed orotherwise inaccurately monitored. Other configurations are contemplated.

By way of further example, a system condition MC of the surgical system30 could be defined as a normal condition NC when all trackers 56 arebeing actively and accurately monitored by the navigation system 48, andcould be defined as an error condition when at least one tracker 56 isobstructed or otherwise inaccurately monitored. However, it will beappreciated that system conditions MC could relate to other aspects ofthe surgical system 30 itself and/or the workflow associated with aparticular surgical procedure. Here, for example, the illuminationassembly 60 could be used to direct light at one or more trackers 56such that light reflected by a tracker 56 from the illumination assembly60 is visible to the user to communicate changes in the system conditionMC of the surgical system 30 to the user that are based on one or moreof: a change a change in the operating mode of the robotic arm 36 (e.g.,between autonomous and manual modes), a change in the relative positionof a surgical tool relative to the patient's anatomy (e.g., approachinga boundary; virtual constraint; desired location, orientation, and/ordepth; and the like), a change in the focus of a surgical procedure'sworkflow (e.g., cutting one bone as opposed to a different bone), achange in the utilization of multiple trackers 56 (e.g., one tracker 56is visible to the navigation system 48 but is not utilized during aparticular part of a surgical procedure), and the like. Otherconfigurations are contemplated. Further examples of system conditionsMC may include, without limitation: actual or expected collisions withthe robotic arm 36 and/or navigation system 48; system errors such astracking errors or robotic system errors, loss of accuracy orregistration, and the like.

In some examples, trackers 56 may comprise a reflective feature,generically indicated at 82, that is operatively attached to the trackerbody 76 in a predetermined arrangement relative to one or more trackablefeatures 58 of the tracker 56. Here, the arrangement of the trackablefeatures 58 and/or the reflective feature 82 relative to the trackerbody 76 is known by the navigation system 48, and may be stored anon-transitory storage medium such as a memory device 84 disposed incommunication with one or more processors 86 of the controller 52(depicted schematically in FIG. 2 ). Various components of the surgicalsystem 30 may employ separate memory devices, processors, circuits, andthe like of various configurations and types, which may communicate withone another via wired and/or wireless communication (not shown indetail, but generally known in the related art).

The reflective feature 82 is separate from the one or more trackablefeatures 58 and is configured to reflect visible light toward the user,as noted above. To this end, in some examples, the reflective feature 82comprises a retroreflective material and the controller 52 is furtherconfigured to direct light at the reflective feature 82 (e.g., atcoordinate associated with the location of the reflective feature 82about the tracker body 76 based on the tracked states TS) such thatlight reflected by the reflective feature 82 from the illuminationassembly 60 is visible to the user of the navigation system 48 tocommunicate the status condition SC of the tracker 56. However, otherconfigurations are contemplated, and the reflective feature 82 could berealized in other ways without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. By way of non-limiting example, rather than comprising aretroreflective material, the reflective feature 82 could also berealized as a discrete portion of the tracker body 76 that is separatefrom, or is otherwise distinguishable by the localizer 54 from, the oneor more trackable features 58 of the tracker 56 but is neverthelessconfigured to at least partially reflect visible light emitted by theillumination assembly 60 so as to be observable by the user tocommunicate the status condition SC or the system condition MC. Otherconfigurations are contemplated.

As noted above, certain types of optically-based localizers 54 areconfigured to monitor trackers 56 with trackable features 58 that arerealized as passive markers 78, whereby infrared or near-infrared lightfrom the emitter module 80 is reflected by the passive markers 78 backto the optical position sensors 74 of the localizer 54. With these typesof optically-based localizers 54 and trackers 56, light from the emittermodule 80 that is reflected by the passive markers 78 is separate anddistinguishable from light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 thatis reflected by the reflective feature 82 based, among other things, onwavelength. As will be appreciated from the subsequent descriptionbelow, in the illustrated examples, the illumination assembly 60 is notconfigured to direct light at the trackable features 58, and lightemitted by the illumination assembly 60 does not facilitate monitoringthe tracked states TS of the trackers 56 via the localizer 54.

The illumination assembly 60 may be utilized in connection with exampleswhere the trackers 56 employ reflective features 82 comprisingretroreflective material that is targeted by the illumination assembly60, as well as examples where the trackers 56 are configured in otherways (e.g., without retroreflective materials, with “active marker”trackable features 58, and the like). Moreover, the navigation system 48of the present disclosure is configured for use with a number ofdifferent types of trackers 56, including without limitation those whichemploy “active” trackable features 58 that are energized by a powersource 88 coupled to the tracker 56 in order to be monitored by thelocalizer 54 (see FIG. 2 ; depicted schematically) and/or “passive”trackable features 58 that can be monitored by the localizer 54 withoutrequiring a power source 88 to be coupled to the tracker 56 (e.g.,realized with passive markers 78). Other configurations arecontemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , certain aspects of the surgical system 30 aredepicted schematically. As noted above, the navigation system 48 employsthe illumination assembly 60 to, among other things, direct light withinthe field of view FV. To this end, the illustrated examples of theillumination assembly 60 generally comprise a light module 90 and anaiming unit 92 that are disposed in communication with the controller52, such as by wired or wireless communication. One or moresub-controllers or other electrical components (not shown) could also beemployed by the illumination assembly 60 to facilitate operating thelight module 90 and/or the aiming unit 92 (e.g., disposed incommunication with the controller 52). Other configurations arecontemplated. The light module 90 and the aiming unit 92 will each bedescribed in greater detail below.

The light module 90 is generally operable between a first illuminationmode IM1 to emit light, and a second illumination mode IM2 that isdifferent from the first illumination mode IM1. As will be appreciatedfrom the subsequent description below, the second illumination mode IM2could be defined in various ways sufficient to be different from thefirst illumination mode IM1 without departing from the scope of thepresent disclosure. By way of non-limiting example, and as is describedin greater detail below, the second illumination mode IM2 may comprisean illumination state IS that is defined by an absence of light emissionby the light module 90. In this way, the user can readily appreciate thestatus condition SC of a particular tracker 56 based on whether or notlight from the illumination assembly 60 is observable at that tracker56.

The light module 90 itself could be operated between “on” to emit lightin the first illumination mode IM1 and “off” to not emit light in thesecond illumination mode IM2. However, rather than operating the lightmodule 90 “off” to define the second illumination mode IM2 for aparticular tracker 56, the illumination assembly 60 could also beconfigured to direct light away from a particular tracker 56 via theaiming unit 92 to define the second illumination mode IM2, which may beimplemented in examples where multiple trackers 56 are illuminated usinga common illumination assembly 60 and/or a common light module 90, suchas is described below in connection with the representative examplesillustrated in FIGS. 8A-9C for example. Nevertheless, the user canreadily differentiate the status condition SC of a particular tracker 56based on whether or not observable light is reflected by the tracker 56that is emitted via the illumination assembly 60.

In some examples, each illumination mode IM1, IM2 may comprise one ormore illumination states IS which, in addition to differentiating theillumination modes IM1, IM2 from each other (e.g., to communicatechanges in the status condition SC of a particular tracker 56 to theuser) may also be utilized to simultaneously communicate systemconditions MC to the user, as described in greater detail below. Likeillumination modes IM1, IM2, illumination states IS may comprise or bebased on, among other things, changes in the wavelength (e.g., color)and/or brightness of light, changes in whether light is being emitted atall (e.g., “on” or “off”), changes in patterns of light emission (e.g.,light emitted in predetermined “blinking” sequences), and the like.Other configurations are contemplated.

As shown in FIG. 2 , in some examples, the first illumination mode IM1may comprise an illumination state IS defined by light emission at afirst wavelength W1 (indicated by a single dashed line), and the secondillumination mode IM2 may comprise an illumination state IS defined bylight emission at a second wavelength W2 (indicated by a double dashedline) that is different from the first wavelength W1. In someembodiments, the first wavelength W1 is defined as light emission in afirst color of visible light (e.g., green) and the second wavelength W2is defined as light emission in a different second color of visiblelight (e.g., red). However, other colors, configurations, and the likeare contemplated. As will be appreciated from the subsequent descriptionbelow in connection with the examples illustrated in FIGS. 8A-9C, thesecond illumination mode IM2 could comprise various illumination statesIS that can each nevertheless be differentiated from the firstillumination mode IM1 (as well as from each other) in order tocommunicate status conditions SC and/or system conditions MC to theuser.

In the representative examples illustrated herein, the light module 90is depicted generically, and may comprise a number of different types,styles, configurations, and the like sufficient to emit light that canbe directed within the field of view FV toward trackers 56. In someexamples, the light module 90 may comprise a laser diode configured toemit light that can be directed toward the tracker 56 via the aimingunit 92, as described in greater detail below. However, otherconfigurations are contemplated, and the light module 90 could beconfigured differently without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. By way of non-limiting example, the light module 90 maycomprise one or more Light Emitting Diodes (e.g., single or multi-colorLEDs) that cooperate with various optical components (e.g., variousmirrors, lenses, light guides, and the like) to facilitate focusing,projecting, or otherwise directing light in predetermined ways withinthe field of view FV. In some examples, such as is depicted in FIGS.7A-7D, the illumination assembly 60 may comprise first and second lightmodules 90A, 90B that can be operated independently and/or incoordinated ways by the controller 52 in to emit light at differentwavelengths W1, W2 that, in some examples, may define differentillumination modes IM1, IM2, different illumination states IS of one ormore of the illumination modes IM1, IM2, and the like. Otherconfigurations are contemplated.

With continued reference to FIG. 2 , as noted above, the illuminationassembly employs the aiming unit 92 to facilitate directing lightemitted by the light module 90 within the field of view FV. To this end,the examples of the aiming unit 92 described in greater detail below inconnection with FIGS. 3-7D include a first actuator assembly 94 that isoperable to direct light emitted by the light module 90 in a firstdirection D1 within the field of view FV, and a second actuator assembly96 that is operable to direct light emitted by the light module 90 in asecond direction D2 within the field of view FV, with the seconddirection D2 being different from the first direction D1. In theillustrated examples, the first direction D1 is substantiallyperpendicular to the second direction D2. However, other configurationsare contemplated.

In the representative examples illustrated herein, the first actuatorassembly 94 comprises a first rotary actuator 98 with a first shaft 100supported by a first body 102 and arranged for movement about a firstaxis A1, and the second actuator assembly 96 comprises a second rotaryactuator 104 with a second shaft 106 supported by a second body 108 andarranged for movement about a second axis A2 that is different from thefirst axis A1. However, and as will be appreciated by the subsequentdescription below, the aiming unit 92 may be of a number of differentstyles, types, and/or configurations sufficient to direct light withinthe field of view FV, and may comprise any suitable number of actuatorassemblies of various types, configurations, and arrangements withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-4B, the illustrated example of the illuminationassembly 60 comprises a housing 110 defining a window 112 through whichlight emitted by the light module 90 can pass. The housing 110 alsodefines a mount 114 that supports various components of the illuminationassembly 60 attached thereto (attachment not shown in detail). In thisexample, the aiming unit 92 also comprises a mirror, generally indicatedat 116, that is operatively attached to the first shaft 100 of the firstrotary actuator 98 for movement about the first axis A1 relative to thelight module 90 to direct light emitted by the light module 90 in thefirst direction D1 within the field of view FV. More specifically, inthis example, the mirror 116 may be further defined as a first mirror116A, and the aiming unit 92 also comprises a second mirror 116B that isoperatively attached to the second shaft 106 of the second rotaryactuator 104 for movement about the second axis A2 relative to the lightmodule 90 to direct light emitted by the light module 90 in the seconddirection D2 within the field of view FV. The second mirror 116B isarranged between the first mirror 116A and the light module 90 such thatlight emitted by the light module 90 is reflected from the second mirror116B to the first mirror 116A before passing out of the window 112.

As shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, in this example of the illumination assembly60, the light module 90 is secured to the mount 114 of the housing 110and emits light that is directed at the second mirror 116B of the secondactuator assembly 96 which, when moved about the second axis A2 via thesecond rotary actuator 104, effects movement of the light in the seconddirection D2. Here, light (e.g., light moving in the second directionD2) is reflected by the second mirror 116B to the first mirror 116A ofthe first actuator assembly 94 which, when moved about the first axis A1via the first rotary actuator 98, effects (further) movement of thelight in the first direction D1. By coordinating operation of the firstand second actuator assemblies 94, 96 of the aiming unit 92, thecontroller 52 is able to quickly and efficiently direct light emitted bythe light module 90 in the first and second directions D1, D2 (compareFIGS. 4A and 4B) within the field of view FV to facilitate communicatingthe status condition SC of the tracker 56, as noted above.

In some examples, the first and second actuator assemblies 94, 96 mayform part of a “mirror galvanometer,” a “laser projector,” or a“scanning laser” that defines the illumination assembly 60 and allowsthe controller 52 to facilitate directing light to specific coordinates,locations, and the like within the field of view FV with a high degreeof precision, accuracy, and speed. However, other configurations arecontemplated, and the first and second actuator assemblies 94, 96 (aswell as the light module 90) could be of a number of different styles,types, configurations, and the like configured to direct light withinthe field of view FV without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A-5B, in this example of the illuminationassembly, only a single mirror 116 is utilized and the aiming unit 92further comprises a carrier 118 that is coupled to the second shaft 106of the second rotary actuator 104 for concurrent movement about thesecond axis A2. Here, the second body 108 of the second rotary actuator104 is secured to the mount 114, and the first actuator assembly 94 iscoupled to the carrier 118 for concurrent movement about the second axisA2 with the second shaft 106. The first actuator assembly 94 supportsthe mirror 116 coupled to the first shaft 100 for movement about thefirst axis A1. In this example, the light module 90 is likewise securedto the mount 114 of the housing 110 and emits light that is directed atthe mirror 116, but the mirror 116 is effectively arranged for movementrelative to the light module 90 in both the first and second directionsD1, D2 based on movement about the first and second axes A1, A2,respectively. Here too in this example, by coordinating operation of thefirst and second actuator assemblies 94, 96 of the aiming unit 92, thecontroller 52 is able to quickly and efficiently direct light emitted bythe light module 90 in the first and second directions D1, D2 (compareFIGS. 5A and 5B) within the field of view FV to facilitate communicatingthe status condition SC of the tracker 56, as noted above.

While the light module 90 is spaced from one or more of the firstactuator assembly 94 and the second actuator assembly 96 in the examplesof the illumination assembly 60 depicted in FIGS. 4A-5B, otherconfigurations are contemplated. For example, and with reference to theexample illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6B, the light module 90 itself may besupported by a coupling 120 secured to the first shaft 100 of the firstrotary actuator 98 for concurrent movement about the first axis A1.Here, like the example described above in connection with FIGS. 5A-5B,the first body 102 of the first rotary actuator 98 is coupled to thecarrier 118 which, in turn, is coupled to the second shaft 106 of thesecond rotary actuator 104 for concurrent movement about the second axisA2. With this configuration, the aiming unit 92 moves the light module90 via operation of the first and second actuator assemblies 94, 96 toeffect movement of light emitted by the light module 90 in the first andsecond directions D1, D2 (compare FIGS. 6A and 6B) within the field ofview FV to facilitate communicating the status condition SC of thetracker 56, as noted above.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A-7D, as noted above, this example of theillumination assembly 60 comprises first and second light modules 90A,90B which can be independently operated by the controller 52. Here, likethe example described above in connection with FIGS. 6A-6B, theillumination assembly 60 employs the coupling 120 to support the firstand second light modules 90A, 90B to the first shaft 100 of the firstrotary actuator 98 for concurrent movement about the first axis A1. Heretoo, the first body 102 of the first rotary actuator 98 is coupled tothe carrier 118 which, in turn, is coupled to the second shaft 106 ofthe second rotary actuator 104 for concurrent movement about the secondaxis A2. With this configuration, the aiming unit 92 operated by thecontroller 52 moves the first and second light modules 90A, 90B via thefirst and second actuator assemblies 94, 96 to effect movement of lightemitted by first and second light modules 90A, 90B in the first andsecond directions D1, D2 (compare FIGS. 7A-7D) within the field of viewFV to facilitate communicating the status condition SC of the tracker56, as noted above.

Referring now to FIG. 8A, an example of the surgical system 30 with anavigation system 48 according to the present disclosure is shown with apatient undergoing a surgical procedure. Here, the surgical site ST isdefined by the patient's right knee joint, and first and second patienttrackers 56A, 56B are attached to adjacent bones of the patient's body B(e.g., the femur and the tibia) and are arranged within the field ofview FV of the localizer 54. The user (e.g., a surgeon) is able toreadily observe the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B adjacentto the surgical site ST which, for the purposes of clarity andconsistency in the subsequent description below, comprise respectivefirst and second trackable features 58A, 58B as well as respective firstand second reflective features 82A, 82B. In this example, theillumination assembly 60 is operatively attached to the localizer 54(e.g., to a portion of the mobile cart 64). Accordingly, both the lightmodule 90 and the aiming unit 92 are also operatively attached to thelocalizer 54 in this example. This arrangement allows the controller 52to direct light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 within the fieldof view FV of the localizer 54 because the position and orientation ofthe illumination assembly 60 is “fixed” relative to the position andorientation of the localizer 54. However, and as described in greaterdetail below in connection with FIGS. 9A-9C, the illumination assembly60 could be spaced from the localizer 54 in some examples.

In FIG. 8A, the localizer 54 has line-of-sight visibility LV (indicatedby dash-dot lines) with each of the first and second patient trackers56A, 56B. Based on visibility between the localizer 54 and the first andsecond trackable features 58A, 58B of the respective first and secondpatient trackers 56A, 56B illustrated in FIG. 8A, the controller 52determines that the status conditions SC of each of the first and secondpatient trackers 56A, 56B are normal conditions NC. Put differently, thestatus conditions SC are normal conditions NC because the localizer 54has an unobstructed view of the first and second trackable features 58A,58B within the field of view FV and is thus able to accurately monitortracked states TS of the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B.However, the controller 52 could determine that the status conditions SCof the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B are normal conditionsNC in other ways without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. By way of non-limiting example, for non-optical typelocalizers 54 (e.g., electromagnetic RM, radio frequency RF, and thelike), signal strength associated with tracked states TS may be utilizedto determine status conditions SC. Other configurations arecontemplated.

With continued reference to FIG. 8A, because each of the trackers 56monitored by the localizer 54 within the field of view FV are determinedto be in normal conditions NC, the controller 52 operates theillumination assembly 60 in the first illumination mode IM1 to directlight at both the first patient tracker 56A and the second patienttracker 56B in order to communicate the normal conditions NC to theuser. Thus, light reflected by the first and second reflective features82A, 82B can be readily observed by the user to communicate the statusconditions SC (here, normal conditions NC) of each of the first andsecond patient trackers 56A, 56B. As will be appreciated from thesubsequent description below, a change from the representative scenarioillustrated in FIG. 8A may represent a change in the status condition SCof one or more trackers 56 from the normal condition NC (e.g., to anerror condition EC).

Here too in FIG. 8A, the controller 52 determines that the systemcondition MC of the navigation system 48 is likewise in a normalcondition NC, which in this example may be communicated to the userbased on light being reflected at the same wavelength W1 by each of thefirst and second patient trackers 56A, 56B. As will be appreciated fromthe subsequent description below, a change from the representativescenario illustrated in FIG. 8A may also represent a change in thesystem condition MC of the navigation system 48 and/or the surgicalsystem 30.

In some examples, the controller 52 is configured to control theillumination assembly 60 to scan light sequentially between the firstand second patient trackers 56A, 56B such that the user observesuninterrupted “simultaneous illumination” of the first and secondreflective features 82A, 82B (e.g., such as by driving the aiming unit92 at high speed). With this configuration, a single light module 90 canbe utilized to direct light at multiple trackers 56. However, as notedabove, it is contemplated that multiple light modules 90 and/orillumination assemblies 60 could be utilized in certain examples withoutdeparting from the scope of the present disclosure.

Continuing now to FIG. 8B from FIG. 8A, a caregiver is shown arrangedbetween the localizer 54 and the first patient tracker 56A. Here, whilethe localizer 54 still has line-of-sight visibility LV (indicated by adash-dot line) with the second trackable feature 58B of the secondpatient tracker 56B, there is a line-of-sight obstruction LO (indicatedby a dash-dot-dot line) with the first trackable feature 58A of thefirst patient tracker 56A caused by the caregiver. Accordingly, thecontroller 52 determines that the status condition SC of the secondpatient tracker 56B is the normal condition NC based on visibility ofthe second trackable feature 58B, and determines that the statuscondition SC of the first patient tracker 56A is an error condition ECbased on obstruction of the first trackable feature 58A. Here, thecontroller 52 operates the illumination assembly 60 to direct light atthe second reflective feature 82B in order to communicate the normalcondition NC of the second patient tracker 56B, but does not directlight at the first reflective feature 82A in order to communicate theerror condition EC of the first patient tracker 56A.

In FIG. 8B, the absence of light emitted by the illumination assembly 60toward the first patient tracker 56A in the second illumination mode IM2is illustrated by a dotted arrow pointing to empty space (compare FIG.8B with FIG. 8A), and the corresponding absence of light reflected bythe first patient tracker 56A to communicate the status condition SC isillustrated by a dotted arrow pointing to the first reflective feature82A.

In this example, for the second patient tracker 56B, the controller 52operates the illumination assembly 60 in the first illumination mode IM1when orientating the aiming unit 92 to direct light at the secondreflective feature 82B in order to facilitate communicating the normalcondition NC of the second patient tracker 56B to the user. However, forthe first patient tracker 56A, the controller 52 operates theillumination assembly 60 in the second illumination mode IM2 (definedhere as an absence of light emission) when orientating the aiming unit92 in a way that would otherwise direct light at the first reflectivefeature 82A. Here, because the aiming unit 92 can “scan” lightsequentially between the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B, thecontroller 52 may be configured to coordinate operation of the aimingunit 92 and the light module 90 such that the light module 90 operates“on” in the first illumination mode IM1 when orientated at the secondpatient tracker 56B and “off” in the second illumination mode IM2 whenorientated at the first patient tracker 56A. However, the controller 52could also be configured to maintain orientation of the aiming unit 92toward the second reflective feature 82B of the second patient tracker56B while operating the light module 90 as “on” in the firstillumination mode IM1 without directing any light toward the firstreflective feature 82A of the first patient tracker 56A. Nevertheless,the configuration illustrated in FIG. 8B communicates the statusconditions SC of the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B to theuser based on the presence or absence of light directed at therespective first and second reflective features 82A, 82B. Putdifferently, the user can readily discern changes in status conditionsSC based on corresponding changes in the illumination of trackers 56 viathe illumination assembly 60, such as for example the first patienttracker 56A changing from the normal condition NC as depicted in FIG. 8Ato the error condition EC as depicted in FIG. 8B.

Comparing FIG. 8B with FIG. 8A demonstrates how the navigation system 48can be utilized to communicate status conditions SC of individualtrackers 56. Because the second patient tracker 56B is reflecting lightemitted by the illumination assembly 60 at the first wavelength W1(indicated by a single dashed line), but the first patient tracker 56Ais not reflecting any light and was previously (compare FIG. 8B to FIG.8A), the user can readily appreciate that the status condition SC of thesecond patient tracker 56B is the normal condition NC by observing lightreflected by the second reflective feature 82B, and also that the statuscondition SC of the first patient tracker 56A has changed to the errorcondition EC by observing the absence of light reflected by the firstreflected feature 82A.

While not depicted in connection with the representative embodimentsillustrated in FIGS. 8A-8B, it will be appreciated that an obstructioncould also fall between the illumination assembly 60 and tracker 56 suchthat the presence of such an obstruction would likewise result in theuser not being able to observe light reflected by the reflective feature82 of the tracker 56, which nevertheless similarly communicates to theuser a change in the status condition SC of the tracker 56 and/or achange in the system condition MC of the surgical system 30. Here, itwill be appreciated that this illustrative scenario may be achieved inembodiments where the illumination assembly 60 is arranged generallyadjacent to the localizer 54 (e.g., as is depicted in FIGS. 8A-8B) inthat interrupting line-of-sight visibility LV of the tracker 56 (e.g., aline-of-sight obstruction LO) would generally also correspond tointerrupting light directed at the tracker 56 via the illuminationassembly 60. Here, and irrespective of the relative arrangement betweenthe localizer 54 and the illumination assembly 60, it will beappreciated that a change in how light is observed (or not observed) atthe reflective feature 82 can prompt the user to further investigate achange in the status condition SC of the tracker 56 and/or the systemcondition MC of the surgical system 30 (e.g., by observing messages onan output device 68 of a user interface 66 to differentiate betweendifferent error types).

Continuing to FIG. 8C from FIG. 8A, similar to as was described above inconnection with FIG. 8B, the caregiver is shown arranged between thefirst patient tracker 56A and the localizer 54 to define a line-of-sightobstruction LO. However, in FIG. 8C, the illumination assembly 60 isshown directing light at the second patient tracker 56B emitted at thesecond wavelength W2 (indicated by a double dashed line) as opposed toat the first wavelength W1 (indicated in FIGS. 8A-8B by a single dashedline). Here, the controller 52 has determined the system condition MC ofthe navigation system 48 to be in an error condition EC based on atleast one of the trackable features 58 of a monitored tracker 56 (here,the first trackable feature 58A of the first patient tracker 56A) havinga status condition SC that is something other than the normal conditionNC (e.g., based on the tracked states TS of each of the trackers 56within the field of view FV).

Comparing FIG. 8C with FIG. 8A demonstrates how the navigation system 48can be utilized in a number of different ways to communicate statusconditions SC of individual trackers 56, as well as to communicatesystem conditions MC of the navigation system 48 and/or surgical system30. Because the second patient tracker 56B is reflecting light emittedby the illumination assembly 60 at the second wavelength W2 and waspreviously reflecting light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 atthe first wavelength W1, the user can readily appreciate that the statuscondition SC of the second patient tracker 56B is the normal conditionNC by observing light reflected by the second reflective feature 82B,but can also readily appreciate that the change in wavelength of thereflected light corresponds to a change in the system condition MC fromthe normal condition NC to the error condition EC. Put differently,observing the change from the first wavelength W1 to the secondwavelength W2 via the second reflective feature 82B of the secondpatient tracker 56B simultaneously communicates to the user that thesecond patient tracker 56B itself is operating properly in the normalcondition NC, but one of the other trackers 56 is obstructed from viewof the localizer 54 and is in an error condition EC. Similar to theexample described above in connection with FIG. 8B, the user canlikewise observe that the first patient tracker 56A is not reflectingany light and was previously (see FIG. 8A), and can readily appreciatethat the status condition SC of the first patient tracker 56A haschanged to the error condition EC based on the absence of lightreflected by the first reflected feature 82A.

Referring now to FIG. 9A, another example of the surgical system 30 witha navigation system 48 according to the present disclosure is shown witha patient undergoing a surgical procedure. Here too, similar to theexample described above in connection with FIG. 8A, the surgical site STis defined by the patient's right knee joint, and first and secondpatient trackers 56A, 56B are attached to adjacent bones of thepatient's body B (e.g., the femur and the tibia) and are arranged withinthe field of view FV of the localizer 54. The user (e.g., a surgeon) isable to readily observe the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56Badjacent to the surgical site ST which likewise comprise respectivefirst and second trackable features 58A, 58B as well as respective firstand second reflective features 82A, 82B.

However, in the example illustrated in FIG. 9A, the illuminationassembly 60 is spaced from the localizer 54 and is operatively attachedto a mobile stand 122 that can be moved relative to other components ofthe surgical system 30. This arrangement allows the controller 52 todirect light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 within the field ofview FV of the localizer 54 in different ways, and can afford additionalfunctionality in certain applications, as described in greater detailbelow. Here, because the illumination assembly 60 is coupled to themobile stand 122, the position and orientation of the illuminationassembly 60 is determined by the localizer 54 via the trackable feature58 of the illumination assembly tracker 561, and the controller 52 cancommunicate with the illumination assembly 60 via wired or wirelesscommunication to facilitate operation of the light module 90 and/oraiming unit 92, as noted above. In some embodiments, the illuminationassembly 60 is spaced from the localizer 54 and is operatively attachedto the surgical robot 32 (not shown), such that the position andorientation of the illumination assembly 60 can be determined by thenavigation system 48, such as based on the arrangement of theillumination assembly 60 relative to the base 34 of the surgical robot32, based on the kinematics of the robotic arm 36 and known fixedrelationships between the illumination assembly 60 and one or more rigidreference points on the surgical robot 32 and/or end effector 40, andthe like. Other configurations are contemplated.

In FIG. 9A, like FIG. 8B described above, the localizer 54 hasline-of-sight visibility LV (indicated by dash-dot lines) with each ofthe first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B. Here too, based onvisibility between the localizer 54 and the first and second trackablefeatures 58A, 58B of the respective first and second patient trackers56A, 56B, the controller 52 determines that the status conditions SC ofeach of the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B are normalconditions NC. Accordingly, the controller 52 operates the illuminationassembly 60 in the first illumination mode IM1 to direct light at boththe first patient tracker 56A and the second patient tracker 56B inorder to communicate the normal conditions NC to the user. Thus, lightreflected by the first and second reflective features 82A, 82B can bereadily observed by the user to communicate the status conditions SC(here, normal conditions NC) of each of the first and second patienttrackers 56A, 56B. Here too, the controller 52 determines that thesystem condition MC of the navigation system 48 is likewise in a normalcondition NC, which in this example may be communicated to the userbased on light being reflected at the same wavelength W1 by each of thefirst and second patient trackers 56A, 56B.

Continuing now to FIG. 9B from FIG. 9A, a caregiver is shown arrangedbetween the localizer 54 and the first patient tracker 56A. Here,similar to the scenario described above in connection with FIG. 8B,while the localizer 54 still has line-of-sight visibility LV (indicatedby a dash-dot line) with the second trackable feature 58B of the secondpatient tracker 56B, there is a line-of-sight obstruction LO (indicatedby a dash-dot-dot line) with the first trackable feature 58A of thefirst patient tracker 56A caused by the caregiver. Accordingly, thecontroller 52 determines that the status condition SC of the secondpatient tracker 56B is the normal condition NC based on visibility ofthe second trackable feature 58B, and determines that the statuscondition SC of the first patient tracker 56A is an error condition ECbased on obstruction of the first trackable feature 58A. Here too, thecontroller 52 operates the illumination assembly 60 to direct light atthe second reflective feature 82B in order to communicate the normalcondition NC of the second patient tracker 56B, but does not directlight at the first reflective feature 82A in order to communicate theerror condition EC of the first patient tracker 56A. Put differently,the controller 52 operates the illumination assembly 60 in the firstillumination mode IM1 for the second patient tracker 56B, and operatesthe illumination assembly 60 in the second illumination mode IM2 for thefirst patient tracker 56A.

Comparing FIG. 9B with FIG. 9A likewise demonstrates how the navigationsystem 48 can be utilized to communicate status conditions SC ofindividual trackers 56. Because the second patient tracker 56B isreflecting light emitted by the illumination assembly at the firstwavelength W1 (indicated by a single dashed line), but the first patienttracker 56A is not reflecting any light and was previously (compare FIG.9B to FIG. 9A), the user can readily appreciate that the statuscondition SC of the second patient tracker 56B is the normal conditionNC by observing light at the first wavelength W1 reflected by the secondreflective feature 82B, and also that the status condition SC of thefirst patient tracker 56A has changed to the error condition EC byobserving the absence of light reflected by the first reflected feature82A.

Continuing to FIG. 9C from FIG. 9A, similar to as was described above inconnection with FIGS. 9B and 8B, the caregiver is shown arranged betweenthe first patient tracker 56A and the localizer 54 to define aline-of-sight obstruction LO. However, in FIG. 9C, the illuminationassembly 60 is shown operating in the second illumination mode IM2directing light toward the first patient tracker 56A at the secondwavelength W2 (indicated by a double dashed line), and in the firstillumination mode IM1 directing light toward the second patient tracker56B at the first wavelength W1 (indicated by a single dashed line). Thisconfiguration is achieved based on the spaced arrangement of theillumination assembly 60 relative to the localizer 54; here in thisillustrative example, while the line-of-sight obstruction LO created bythe caregiver affects the localizer's 54 ability to monitor trackedstates TS of the first patient tracker 56A in real time, theillumination assembly 60 is not presented with an obstruction and canstill emit light toward the first patient tracker 56A. Thus, thecontroller 52 may be configured to direct light towards the firstpatient tracker 56A based on the last known position of the firstreflective feature 82A prior to the localizer 54 determining thepresence of an obstruction of the first trackable feature 58A. However,other configurations are contemplated, and the controller 52 could beconfigured to estimate or otherwise determine the location of the firstpatient tracker 56A in other ways (e.g., with additional localizers,imaging systems, inertial sensors, and the like). Other configurationsare contemplated.

Irrespective of how the location of the first patient tracker 56Aillustrated in FIG. 9C is approximated or otherwise determined, as notedabove, the illumination assembly is depicted operating in the secondillumination mode IM2 with an illumination state IS defined by lightemission at the second wavelength W2 (indicated by a double dashed line)directed at the first patient tracker 56A, and operating in the firstillumination mode IM1 with an illumination state IS defined by lightemission at the first wavelength W1 (indicated by a single dashed line)directed at the second reflective feature 82B of the second patienttracker 56B. TO this end, the illumination assembly 60 depicted in FIG.9D may be configured similar to the example described above inconnection with FIGS. 7A-7D. However, other configurations arecontemplated.

Comparing FIG. 9C with FIG. 9A demonstrates how the navigation system 48can be utilized in a number of different ways to communicate statusconditions SC of individual trackers 56, as well as to communicatesystem conditions MC of the navigation system 48 and/or surgical system30. Because the first patient tracker 56A is reflecting light emitted bythe illumination assembly 60 at the second wavelength W2 and waspreviously reflecting light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 atthe first wavelength W1, the user can readily appreciate that the changein wavelength of the reflected light corresponds to a change in thestatus condition SC from the normal condition NC to the error conditionEC. Furthermore, because the second patient tracker 56B continues toreflect light emitted by the illumination assembly 60 at the firstwavelength W1, the user can readily appreciate that the first patienttracker 56A remains in the normal condition NC. In some examples, thecontroller 52 could also be configured to operate the illuminationassembly 60 so as to emit light at the second wavelength W2 toward boththe first and second patient trackers 56A, 56B in some examples (notshown), such as to communicate a change in the system condition MC tothe user. Other configurations are contemplated.

Referring now to FIG. 10A, another example of the surgical system 30with a navigation system 48 according to the present disclosure is shownwith a patient undergoing a surgical procedure. Here too, similar to theexample described above in connection with FIG. 9A, the surgical site STis defined by the patient's right knee joint, and first and secondpatient trackers 56A, 56B are attached to adjacent bones of thepatient's body B (e.g., the femur and the tibia) and are arranged withinthe field of view FV of the localizer 54. The user (e.g., a surgeon) isable to readily observe the first and second patient trackers 56A, 56Badjacent to the surgical site ST which likewise comprise respectivefirst and second trackable features 58A, 58B.

However, in the example illustrated in FIG. 10A, while the navigationsystem 48 is configured to track states TS of each tracker 56 within thefield of view FV, the second patient tracker 56B is inactive forillustrative purposes (e.g., to represent a surgical procedure that onlyutilizes the second patient tracker 56B during some of the workflow).Furthermore, in the representative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10A,the first patient tracker 56A does not comprise a reflective feature 82,and an ancillary patient tracker 56N is shown attached to the sameportion of the patient's body B as the first patient tracker 56A (e.g.,the femur) such that the first patient tracker 56A and the ancillarypatient tracker 56N move concurrently. However, it will be appreciatedthat the first patient tracker 56A and/or the ancillary patient tracker56N may each be illuminated in some embodiments, irrespective of whetheror not each employs a reflective feature 82. To this end, the firstpatient tracker 56A may be illuminated to identify a normal conditionNC, and the ancillary marker 56N can be illuminated to communicate thatancillary/redundant tracking is active. Other configurations arecontemplated. In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10A,the ancillary patient tracker 56N comprises a trackable feature 58Ndefined by a passive marker 78 that can be monitored by the navigationsystem 48, and also comprises a reflective feature 82N. With thisconfiguration, the navigation system 48 is configured to track states TSof the first and ancillary patient trackers 56A, 56N, and the controller52 is further configured to relate the tracked states TS of theancillary patient tracker 56N to the first patient tracker 56A. Morespecifically, in some configurations, the navigation system 48 mayregister combined geometry of the first patient tracker 56A and theancillary patient tracker 56N, and may determine an error when thetracked geometry deviates from the registered geometry. Accordingly, inthis embodiment, the controller 52 is configured to operate theillumination assembly 60 to direct light toward the reflective feature82N of the ancillary patient tracker 56N to communicate the statuscondition SC of the first patient tracker 56A to the user. However, itwill be appreciated that other configurations are contemplated by thepresent disclosure. In some embodiments, for example, the illuminationassembly 60 could direct light toward a reflective feature 82A of apatient tracker 56A and toward a reflective feature 82N of anotherobject that is fixed to the same bone as the patient tracker 56 but isnot necessarily monitored actively by the navigation system 48 (e.g., anobject that is registered in the localizer coordinate system LCLZ viathe pointer tool 62 but does not employ a discrete marker 78). Otherconfigurations are contemplated.

In FIG. 10A, the localizer 54 has line-of-sight visibility LV (indicatedby dash-dot lines) with each of the first and ancillary patient trackers56A, 56N. Here, based on visibility between the localizer 54 and thetrackable features 58A, 58N of the respective first and ancillarypatient trackers 56A, 56N, the controller 52 determines that the statuscondition SC of the first patient tracker 56A is the normal condition NCbased on an absence of change in the arrangement of the first patienttracker 56A relative to the ancillary patient tracker 56N because oftheir rigid connection to the same portion of the patient's body B(e.g., the femur). Put differently, because the first and ancillarypatient trackers 56A, 56N move concurrently, and the controller 52 willdetermine that the first patient tracker 56A is in the normal conditionNC unless one moves relative to the other. Accordingly, the controller52 operates the illumination assembly 60 in the first illumination modeIM1 to direct light at the ancillary patient tracker 56N in order tocommunicate the normal condition NC of the first patient tracker 56A tothe user.

Thus, as depicted in FIG. 10A, light reflected by the reflective feature82N can be readily observed by the user to communicate the statuscondition SC (here, the normal condition NC) of the first patienttracker 56A. However, if the first patient tracker 56A inadvertentlybecomes loose or otherwise changes arrangement relative to the ancillarypatient tracker 56N (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 10B; compare with FIG.10A), the controller 52 determines that the first patient tracker 56A isin the error condition EC. Here, as shown in FIG. 10B, while thelocalizer 54 still has line-of-sight visibility LV (indicated by adash-dot line) with the trackable features 58A 58N of the first andancillary patient trackers 56A, 56N, the controller 52 determines thatthe status condition SC of the first patient tracker 56A is an errorcondition EC based on the change in the arrangement between the firstand ancillary patient trackers 56A, 56N effected by inadvertentloosening of the first patient tracker 56A described above. Accordingly,in this embodiment, the controller 52 then operates the illuminationassembly 60 in the second illumination mode IM2 so as not to directlight at the reflective feature 82N of the ancillary patient tracker 56Nin order to communicate the error condition EC of the first patienttracker 56A to the user. However, it will be appreciated that the changein illumination of the reflective feature 82N of the ancillary patienttracker 56N could be communicated to the user based on the illuminationassembly 60 directing light away from the reflective feature 82Nresulting from misalignment between the first and ancillary patienttrackers 56A, 56N. Put differently, the change in illumination of thereflective feature 82N could be communicated to the user withoutnecessarily altering how the illumination assembly 60 itself is operated(e.g., via the controller 52) in scenarios where misalignment betweenthe first and ancillary patient trackers 56A, 56N results in theillumination assembly 60 directing light toward a location other than atthe reflective feature 82N (e.g., where the reflective feature 82N wouldotherwise be located but for the misalignment).

It will be appreciated that the configuration described above inconnection with FIGS. 10A-10B affords the ability to utilize ancillarytrackers 56N to communicate the status condition SC (and/or systemcondition MC) of a patient tracker 56A that is attached to the sameportion of the patient's body B while ensuring that error conditions ECof various types (e.g., based on inadvertent loosening or misalignmentof patient trackers) can be readily communicated to the user via theillumination assembly 60.

It will be appreciated that the illumination assembly 60 can also helpfacilitate improved accuracy and usability of the navigation system 48via feedback generated based on how light directed at the trackers 56from the illumination assembly 60 is observed either by the user or thesurgical system 30. By way of non-limiting example, feedback may beutilized to help facilitate optimizing the alignment of the illuminationassembly 60 relative to the surgical site ST, the reflective features82, and/or the localizer 54, either automatically or by user-actuatedadjustment. Here, because the illumination assembly 60 can be tracked inthe same coordinate system as the trackers 56 (e.g., via utilization ofa illumination assembly tracker 561, via coupling to the surgical robot32 described above, and the like), parameters utilized when adjustingthe illumination assembly 60 can be converted into correspondingadjustments in the localizer coordinate system LCLZ to facilitateadjusting and registering tracked states TS of trackers 56 via thenavigation system 48. Furthermore, it is contemplated that feedbackcould be utilized by the navigation system 48 to improve monitoringaccuracy (e.g., by prompting the user to verify that a particulartracker 56 is reflecting light from the illumination assembly 60 in acertain way). Thus, in addition to being able to readily discern changesin how light is reflected by the reflective features 82 (e.g., indifferent colors, between on-and-off, and the like) in order todetermine changes in status conditions SC or system conditions MC, theuser may be prompted by the surgical system 30 (e.g., via the userinterface 66) to confirm that certain types of light can be observed (ornot observed) at one or more trackers 56 during specific parts of thesurgical procedure workflow. Furthermore, it will be appreciated thatfeedback can be also be provided to the surgical system 30automatically, such as by using one or more imaging systems (e.g.,visible light-capable computer-vision localizers 54, cameras, sensors,and the like) to observe trackers 56 for reflected visible lightdirected at the trackers 56 via the illumination assembly 60. Otherconfigurations are contemplated, and it will be appreciated thatfeedback can be utilized by the surgical system 30 in a number ofdifferent ways.

Irrespective of the specific configuration of the tracker 56 and/orlocalizer 54 utilized in order to facilitate monitoring tracked statesTS during a surgical procedure, the navigation system 48 of the presentdisclosure allows the user to quickly and reliably observe and discernstatus conditions SC of trackers 56 and/or system conditions MC of thenavigation system 48 and/or surgical system 30 without reliance on thepower source 88 to facilitate communicating status conditions SC and/orsystem conditions MC to the user. Put differently, trackers 56 whichemploy “active” trackable features 58 can be configured without on-boardelectronics or components dedicated to communicating status conditionsSC and/or system conditions MC, thereby allowing utilization of thepower source 88 to be optimized for other purposes (e.g., energizing“active” trackable features 58, sensors, and the like). Similarly,trackers 56 with both “active” and “passive” trackable features 58 canbe configured according to the present disclosure so as to allow theuser to observe status conditions SC and/or system conditions MC withouthaving to look away from the surgical site ST (e.g., to view statusinformation or alerts on a screen or another output device 68). Thisadvantageously affords the user with the ability to quickly andefficiently determine status conditions SC and/or system conditions MCwithout having to avert attention away from the surgical site ST.

It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and“including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,”and “comprising.” Moreover, it will be appreciated that terms such as“first,” “second,” “third,” and the like are used herein todifferentiate certain structural features and components for thenon-limiting, illustrative purposes of clarity and consistency.

Several configurations have been discussed in the foregoing description.However, the configurations discussed herein are not intended to beexhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. Theterminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of wordsof description rather than of limitation. Many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings and theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A surgical system comprising: a tracker having atleast one trackable component; a localizer configured to track states ofthe at least one trackable component; an illumination assembly locatedremote from the tracker and operable to direct a visible light; and acontroller coupled to the localizer and to the illumination assembly andthe controller being configured to: detect a condition; and control theillumination assembly to remotely direct the visible light at thetracker such that the visible light is reflected by the tracker tocommunicate the detected condition.
 2. The surgical system of claim 1,wherein the detected condition relates to a status condition of thetracker, and wherein the controller is configured to: control theillumination assembly to remotely direct the visible light at thetracker such that the visible light is reflected by the tracker tocommunicate the status condition of the tracker.
 3. The surgical systemof claim 2, wherein the status condition of the tracker relates to: anormal operating condition of the tracker; or an error conditionassociated with operation of the tracker.
 4. The surgical system ofclaim 2, wherein the status condition of the tracker indicates whetheror not the tracker is being properly detected by the localizer.
 5. Thesurgical system of claim 2, wherein the status condition of the trackerindicates: visibility between the localizer and the at least onetrackable component of the tracker; or obstruction in visibility betweenthe localizer and the at least one trackable component of the tracker.6. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein the detected conditionrelates to a system condition, and wherein the controller is configuredto: control the illumination assembly to remotely direct the visiblelight at the tracker such that the visible light is reflected by thetracker to communicate the system condition.
 7. The surgical system ofclaim 6, wherein the system condition relates to: a normal operatingcondition associated with the surgical system; or an error conditionassociated with operation of the surgical system.
 8. The surgical systemof claim 6, wherein the system condition relates to a conditionassociated with a workflow of a surgical procedure.
 9. The surgicalsystem of claim 8, wherein the condition associated with the workflow ofthe surgical procedure relates to one or more of: a change in a step ofthe workflow of the surgical procedure; a change in utilization of thetracker; a spatial relationship between a surgical tool and a patient'sanatomy; a spatial relationship between a surgical tool and a virtualboundary or constraint; a spatial relationship between a surgical tooland a target orientation for the surgical tool; and/or a spatialrelationship between a surgical tool and a target depth for the surgicaltool.
 10. The surgical system of claim 6, wherein the system conditionrelates to a condition associated with a robotic system.
 11. Thesurgical system of claim 10, wherein the condition associated with therobotic system relates to one or more of: an actual collision by therobotic system; an expected collision by the robotic system; an errordetected for the robotic system; and/or a change of operating mode ofthe robotic system.
 12. The surgical system of claim 1, wherein: thetracker comprises a reflective indicator separate from the at least onethe trackable component and being configured to reflect the visiblelight; and the controller is configured to control the illuminationassembly to remotely direct the visible light at the reflectiveindicator of the tracker such that the visible light is reflected by thereflective indicator to communicate the detected condition.
 13. Thesurgical system of claim 1, wherein: the illumination assembly is spacedapart from and separated from the localizer; and the illuminationassembly further comprises an illumination assembly tracker; and whereinthe localizer is further configured to detect the illumination assemblytracker to track states of the illumination assembly.
 14. The surgicalsystem of claim 1, wherein: the localizer is an optical localizer; andthe at least one trackable component comprises at least one passiveoptical marker configured to be tracked by the optical localizer withouta power source coupled to the tracker.
 15. The surgical system of claim1, wherein: the localizer comprises a radio-frequency localizer and theat least one trackable component comprises an active or passiveradio-frequency emitter or transponder; the localizer comprises anelectromagnetic localizer and the at least one trackable componentcomprises an active or passive electromagnetic component; the localizercomprises an imaging system and the at least one trackable componentcomprises a radio-opaque marker; the localizer comprises a machinevision system and the at least one trackable component comprises astructural feature detectable by the machine vision system; or thelocalizer comprises an ultrasound system and the at least one trackablecomponent comprises a marker detectable by the ultrasound system.
 16. Amethod of operating a surgical system comprising a tracker having atleast one trackable component, a localizer configured to track states ofthe at least one trackable component, an illumination assembly locatedremote from the tracker and operable to direct a visible light, and acontroller coupled to the localizer and to the illumination assembly andthe controller being configured to perform the steps of: detecting acondition; and controlling the illumination assembly for remotelydirecting the visible light at the tracker such that the visible lightis reflected by the tracker for communicating the detected condition.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected condition relates to astatus condition of the tracker, and the method comprising thecontroller: controlling the illumination assembly for remotely directingthe visible light at the tracker such that the visible light isreflected by the tracker for communicating the status condition of thetracker.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the detected conditionrelates to a system condition, and the method comprising the controller:controlling the illumination assembly for remotely directing the visiblelight at the tracker such that the visible light is reflected by thetracker for communicating the system condition.
 19. A surgical systemcomprising: a surgical tool configured for a surgical procedure; atracker coupled to the surgical tool and having at least one trackablecomponent; a localizer configured to track states of the at least onetrackable component; an illumination assembly located remote from thetracker and operable to direct a visible light; and a controller coupledto the localizer and to the illumination assembly and the controllerbeing configured to: detect a condition associated with the surgicaltool or with the surgical procedure; and control the illuminationassembly to remotely direct the visible light at the tracker such thatthe visible light is reflected by the tracker to communicate thedetected condition.
 20. The surgical system of claim 19, wherein thedetected condition relates to one or more of: a change in a workflowstep of the surgical procedure; a spatial relationship between thesurgical tool and a patient's anatomy; a spatial relationship betweenthe surgical tool and a virtual boundary or constraint; a spatialrelationship between the surgical tool and a target orientation for thesurgical tool; and/or a spatial relationship between the surgical tooland a target depth for the surgical tool.